Wildlife officials to check Phuket beach over slow loris tout photos

Wildlife officials to check Phuket beach over slow loris tout photos

PHUKET: The Chief of the Phuket Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area Conservation Centre in Thalang, Piyawat Sukon, has confirmed today (Dec 7) that they will check Kata Beach after a photo of a slow loris tout that was sent to The Phuket News on Monday (Dec 4) was forwarded to his office.

A photo of the slow loris tout seen on Kata Beach and sent to The Phuket News this week. Photo: Supplied

“Thank you for reporting this to us. I will send my staff to check Kata Beach to find them,” said Mr Piyawat.

“We actually often inspect the beaches, especially Kata Beach. We caught two loris touts there last month and another one just about a week ago,” he added.

“The difficulty is they know what our vehicles look like, and what we look like, so sometimes they hide and don’t come out while we are there,” he said.

“I will let you know if we have success this time,” he added.

Regarding the spottings of iguanas on Surin Beach by The Phuket News, Mr Piyawat said, “Iguanas are an animal imported from abroad, they are not Thai wildlife, so they aren’t protected by Thai law.”

Mr Piyawat also welcomed anyone to report sightings of illegal possession and mistreatment of wild animals directly to him on 089-873-7749.

“You can report these sightings to me directly. I speak basic English, if you are a foreigner, please speak simply and say what animal you saw, where, and when, or other important details,” he added.

He explained that a previous telephone number provided to The Phuket News in March this year, 073-311-998, (see story here) is of the Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area Conservation Centre’s study division.

“It is within the same centre, but another division, so some officials might not know details about this,” he said.

“You can still call that number, but if you do, you should ask for the head of the center. So you might as well call me directly, at 089-873-7749.”

Comment on this story

* Please login to comment. If you do not have an account please register below by simply entering a username, password and email address. You can still leave your comment below at the same time.

And the hundreds, thousands of Tourists that come here and rent motorbikes without a licence, and later end up in hospital or the morgue are not Thai therefore not protected by Thai law...

BenPendejo |
08 December 2017 - 14:28:17

So, “Iguanas are imported from abroad, they are not Thai wildlife, so they aren’t protected by Thai law." But then Mr Piyawat said you can report sightings of illegal possession and mistreatment of wild animals directly to him. Being a tout is an illegal business, and stuffing an iguana in a back back and putting it on peoples heads is mistreatment. That it "isn't Thai wildlife&q...

Kurt |
08 December 2017 - 08:54:03

Do the thai laws allow to import Iguanas but than not protect them against exploitation?

Nasa12 |
08 December 2017 - 07:05:23

A be on the Karon Police Station about 20 times whit picture of this people ,But this Lasy Police Station never have time. They have time in the Morning to take money from this people, this happend every day. This Police Station I think are the most Corrupt Police Station in Phuket after live here fore 11 Year a now.